Esther Schneirsohn Finegold Young Wedner
April 17, 1924 - July 18, 2021
With the blessing of many years, Esther Wedner, passed away Sunday at age 97. Raised in an Orthodox Jewish home in New Orleans, Esther was one of six children whose parents emigrated from Israel (then the Ottoman Empire) where her family had lived since the 1700's. Her mother, a Schneirsohn and direct descendant of the "Alter Rebbe", came from Safed and her father from Tiberius. Esther graduated with a degree in sociology from Sophie Newcomb College (Tulane University). She and her first husband, Louis Young, moved to various tiny towns in western Pennsylvania before settling in Washington, Pennsylvania, where they raised two children, Judy and Jeffry. Esther got a teacher's certificate and taught first-grade for 10 years. She went on to get a MA in counseling from the University of Pittsburgh. For 13 years, Esther was a counselor and teacher of communication skills for student nurses. She was deeply involved with community theater including playing to multiple standing ovations in her starring role in Mame. She maintained this love of theater throughout her life.
In 1981 she moved to Van Nuys, California to be with her sister, Rachel. Esther remarried Arthur Wedner and lived in southern California for eight years before moving to Soquel. She enjoyed 20 wonderful years there before making the move to the Saratoga Retirement Community.
Esther's hobbies included acting and singing. She and her sister, Rachel, co-authored "What to Say When" a book on effective communication, which grew out of seminars they gave. She enjoyed the family tradition of observing the Sabbath on Friday night with candle lighting and dinner. She traveled extensively with her beloved husband Art. She founded a women's investment club, served as a grand juror, and sang in synagogue choirs.
She enjoyed a special relationship with her grandsons. Supported by remarkably skilled and caring staff at the Saratoga Retirement Community, Esther remained robust and good natured while bearing both the joy and challenges of a long life.
Predeceased by her daughter Judith Reiser and son-in-law Gene Reiser, she is survived by son Jeffry Young (Anna), a total of five grandsons, two great grandchildren and 3 step-great grandchildren, brother Leo Finegold, stepdaughters (Diane and Marilyn) and stepson (Alan) and their families, as well as many adoring nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. The family joke is that perhaps her favorite remained her beloved and much spoiled dog, Benny.
A fervent supporter of social justice, the Esther Young Wedner Social Justice Fund was named in her honor at her synagogue, Congregation Shir Hadash. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to contribute to the fund to honor and memorialize her passion for social justice. Please visit the Esther Young Wedner Social Justice Fund at <https://www.shirhadash.org/payment.php > for more information.
Funeral will be Wednesday July 21st at 11am. Los Gatos Memorial Park.
2255 Los Gatos Almaden Road, San Jose, CA 95124
A true Eishet Chayil, a woman of valor - she will be dearly missed.